Top 20 columbo episodes10/7/2023 ![]() ![]() However, series co-creator William Link still believed the Lieutenant had more life in him, and in 1988 managed to sell the idea of a new mystery movie series to ABC, with Columbo the headline act. He could be brought back if the circumstances were right. Five years later, network CBS wanted to bring Columbo back in a new mystery wheel alongside Kojak. Negotiations for a further NBC season in 1979 failed – largely due to Falk’s insistence on no budgetary or time restraints to produce the highest quality shows. He wanted more time to focus on his movie career but was not averse to one, perhaps two, annual appearances in the rumpled Mac if the quality of scripts could be guaranteed.Īccording to Mark Dawidziak’s The Columbo Phile, Falk maintained this stance even after The Conspirators. Columbo was quietly discontinued, but the will was still there to keep him alive in some capacity.Īs far back as 1976, Falk spoke of being quite happy to keep playing the Lieutenant indefinitely, but on a much reduced schedule. Negotiations between Falk and the studio simply petered out. Why now? Despite a varied movie career in the 1980s (including All the Marbles, above), Falk never gave up on a Columbo comebackĭespite being off screens since May 1978, when The Conspirators drew the curtain on Columbo’s first decade, the show was never officially cancelled. It was just like the ultra-successful NBC Mystery Movie wheel of 1971-77 had been resurrected simply to bring Columbo back to screens once every three weeks. Peter Falk certainly thought so, as did the ABC network, which was only too glad to have the heavyweight detective head up their new ‘Monday Mystery Movie’ wheel alongside Burt Reynolds’ vehicle BL Stryker and Gideon Oliver, starring Louis Gossett Jr. But was there sufficient love to guarantee a blockbuster Columbo comeback? Still, Columbo remained a treasured offering, and years of reruns had ensured the Lieutenant had retained his place in the hearts and minds of the viewing public. We can largely blame the times for that, but when it comes to costumes, homes, cars, music and other visible symbols of the class that was inherent in the show’s 70s’ heyday, there was much less to impress viewers. The ‘wow factor’ was a lot less in evidence.Īlso (and I say this with a level of trepidation lest 80s’ TV fans become livid), television of the day was a lot more trashy. There were certainly some A-List guest stars in the new episodes (Faye Dunaway, Patrick McGoohan, George Hamilton, Rod Steiger spring to mind), but they were fewer and further between. As a result it was pretty much impossible to hire the same sort of quality in depth acting ensemble. The cost of producing TV had gone waaaay up by the late 80s/early 90s. I’m not saying this chap can’t act, but he’s no Jack Cassidy in terms of charisma A year later, The Most Crucial Game also featured Gregory in a bit-part role, along with the likes of Oscar winner Dean Jagger, beloved comedienne Valerie Harper and Dean Stockwell. Quite aside from Roddy McDowall as the killer, the episode featured Anne Francis, Ida Lupino and Jimmy Gregory in small support roles. Gone were the days that a show could boast three or four layers of renowned acting talent in a single episode – something that was standard fare for Columbo in the 70s. From a budgetary perspective, times were far less lavish. The TV world of the late 80s, however, was very different. The show was boosted further by a galaxy of charismatic stars (often in relatively minor support roles), big-budget locations, sets, costumes, exciting and innovative editing techniques and movie-worthy scores. ![]() Watching the scruffy little detective poking his nose into the affairs, mansions and luxury motor cars of LA’s rich and famous made for utterly compelling viewing. After an 11-year sojourn, was the magic still there? *chortle* The world the Lieutenant inhabited in 1989 was a far cry from his classic 70s’ realm – and the gulf in class between the two eras was immediately evident when Columbo returned to screens after an 11-year break.įrom 1968-78, Columbo gave us an unbeatable slice of the good life.
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